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Public Hearing on Johnston Walking Trail gets contentious

web posted February 13, 2007
JOHNSTON – The Johnston Town Council held a Public Hearing at its February monthly meeting Monday night that started slow but ended up consuming a large portion of the near two-hour meeting. At issue was an application for a Rails Trails Program Grant for a walking trail, a “name change” according to Mayor Willie Campbell, from “walking track”. At first there were no takers for comments but after some urging of the Mayor and Administrator Olin Gambrel several people got up to support the Mayors preference of placing the walking track at Watson Park, at times drawing the ire of Councilman Tommy Burton.

One by one at least a half dozen addressed the town council expressing their views, most in support of the Watson Park location. Roger Lamb said he did not have a preference but would like to see a walking track installed in the town. Mrs. Edwards spoke up and gave support of the Watson Park location, as did Carrie Johnson. Ms. Johnson said the issue of safety was not isolated to the Watson Park area, You’re not safe anywhere,” Johnson said adding that you should always walk with a “buddy” for protection.

Councilman Burton stated that he did not support suggestion the $18,000 be spent at the Watson Park location because it would have to be dug up when the grading for the ball fields take place in the next two years. Burton said he wanted to set the record straight on someone outside of the town circulating a petition stating things, he said, that is “false information.” Burton said the petition claims the Jaycees were the ones wanting the walking track placed at the park. “The Jaycees have nothing to do with the park,” Burton said, “the town has a lease on the park.” The decision, Burton said, belongs to the town council as to where the walking track goes.

Councilwoman Tyra Miller said she still wants to see the Watson Park go as planned but due to the National Guard being called up for duty the plans have to wait. The Guard unit agreed to do the grading that otherwise would cost $300,000 to $400,000. Councilman Nicholson, who just recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq said he did not foresee the unit being released for another year or two and would not be able to finish the required grading until such time.

Town Administrator Olin Gambrel said the length of the walking trail at the Jaycee Park would be about a quarter of a mile long and the County has agreed to help provide figures of the cost of paving it.

In the end Mayor Campbell thanked everyone for their comments and it appeared that the town council was set firmly behind the Jaycee Park location. The grant application is a 80/20 matching funds with the town providing 20% of the funds for the project.
 
 
 

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